Description

‘Celebrates women how they are, as they are’ GILLIAN ANDERSON
‘There’s something on every page of this book that you didn’t know before’ SATHNAM SANGHERA
‘Brave and honest’ ELIF SHAFAK

A global exploration of ancestral beauty practices by the Sunday Times-bestselling author of Brit(ish)

OUR BODIES TELL OUR STORY.

This powerful global history of beauty by the Sunday Times-bestselling author of Brit(ish) Afua Hirsch dismantles the colonial falsehoods that shape our sense of belonging and celebrates the pioneering stories and ideas of women from marginalised groups.

‘Remarkable’ OBSERVER
‘Intimate’ GUARDIAN
‘Vital’ i PAPER

Publisher Review

Exceptionally rich, inspiring, challenging, wise and moving. I didn’t realise I needed this book until I read it and felt stirrings towards my own ancestral awakening of African female cultural beliefs and practices that were sadly long ago lost to the colonial project. This is a ground-breaking book that speaks to all women. * Bernardine Evaristo, author of ‘Girl, Woman, Other’ * There’s something on every page of this book that you didn’t know before, or makes you look at things a new. An important publication. Decolonising my Body is both a generous offering, and a joy filled testimony. Afua skilfully pulls us into her world, and generously allows us to accompany her on a journey of questioning and unpacking notions of beauty. This exploration lights a path for all people who seek to (re)connect with more expansive understandings of beauty. Afua has cut through so much of the noise to provide an enlightening and necessary reflection on how we can learn from the wisdom and beauty of our ancestors to become spiritually healthier humans. This book is a knowledge gift to us all. * Naomi Evans, author of ‘The Mixed Race Experience’, co-Founder of Everyday Racism * The journalist, commentator and author of Brit(ish) reflects on twelve months radical unlearning of Eurocentric and patriarchal conventions of beauty in this powerful and challenging volume. * Waterstones, ‘Best Books of 2023: Politics’ * A remarkable journey to unlearn western beauty standards and explore ancestral skin, hair and body modification rituals. * Observer * Disarmingly honest… quietly radical * Evening Standard * Praise for Brit(ish): Highly personal and yet instantly universal, this is a book that millions will instantly relate to. The book for our divided and dangerous times. * David Olusoga, author of ‘Black and British’ * Praise for Brit(ish): A warm, informative and occasionally heart-wrenching blend of personal and political and the messiness between the two’ * Nikesh Shukla, author of ‘The Good Immigrant’ *